greeks



J. W GREEN;

ROTARY G APPLICATION FlLED FEB..24,1919.

AS ENGINE.

I'hltented. July 1, 1919.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

#ME'S IV/LL/AM GREEN,

1. W. GREEN.

ROTARY GAS ENGINE.

APPUCATION FILED =FEB- 24,1919.

Patented July 1, 1919.

J. W. GREEN.

ROTARY GAS ENGINE.

v APPLICATION men FEB, 24. 1919. 1,308,352, Patented July 1, 1919.

' 4 SHEETSSHEET 3.

I'll

JAME-S 'V/LLIZWI (inane v vszv ran l. W. GREEN.

ROTARY GAS ENGINE. APPLlCATION maxi FEB. 24. 1919.

Patented July 1, 1919.

4 SHEETS-SHEEF 4.

III/04g" 'To all whom it may concern:

JAMES WILLIAM GREEN, or PORTLAND, OREGON.

ROTARYGAS-ENGINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 1, 1919.

Application filed February 24, 1919. Serial No. 279,458.

Be it known that I, JAMES WILLIAM GREEN, a citizen of the United States, residing in the .city of Portland, county of Multnomah, and State of Oregon, have 1nvented certain new andjuse-ful Improvements in Rotary Gas-Engines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to rotary gas engines of the character shown and described in my copending application filed December 22, 1916, Serial No. 1558,39 7.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide certain improvements in ,15

the valve mechanisms which control the inlet and exhaust'to and from the piston casingjthe spark mechanism and 1ts 00111101;

. to provide a starting mechanism formed as trolling clement I a part of my engine; and, in general, to pro- -vide in a rotary gas engine an improved and simplified mechanism for feeding and conand igniting the explosive charges, and'at the same time to provide an engine of compact form.

In order tomore fully explain my invention, Ihave illustrated the same on theQaccompanying sheets of drawings. which,

Figure 1 is a vertical, longitudinal sec' tional view thereof;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary transverse sectional .view on line 22, of 1;

2 sho'ws edge and face views of a special gear; a I I Fig. 2 is atop plan view of a detail,, shown in F ig. 2;

' Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional View taken on line'33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4.- is a side elevation pistons;

Fig. 5 is an end view the] edf;

Fig. 6 is an end- View of the other .pair of pistons; Fig. 7 is a. fragmentary sectional View of one pair of taken on line 7- of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is 'a i-ransve e sectional view on line 8 8, Fig. l;

Fig. 9 is a similar View on line 9+9 of Fig. 1

Fig. 10 is a face view of a' slotted gear Fig. 11 is a sectional view thereof on line 11 11;

, nection therewith. Fig.1 and Fig. 3. fore, in crossed relationship, and must ad- 'at one end, as at 14* other, as at 14 Fig. 12 is a face view of another special gear element; I

Fig. 13 is a sectional'view thereof on line 137-13;

Fig. 14 is a sectional view through an end bearing member;

Fig. 15 is an inner view thereof;

Fig. 16 is a vertical sectional view taken on the irregular line 16-16 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 17 is a sectional view of a detail of construction Figs. 18, 19 and 20 are detail views;

Figs. 21, 22, 23 and 24 are detail views.

Referring now more in detail to the drawings, my invention as here shown comprises a cylindrical piston casing 1, having two side. plates or heads, 2 and 3. Mounted through said casing is a main shaft 4, on which ismounted a pair of pistons, 5 and 6, on a hub like structure 7, having four ports extending therethrough and communicating-- with the interior ofthe casing, between the pistons, as at. 9, as will be understood from Figs. 1 and 3. Also mounted within said casing 1, is a second pair of pistons 10 and 11, on a sleeve 12, which sleeve turns on the hub like structure 7, which carries the pistons 5 and 6, and has an interfitting connecas will be understood from Said pistons are, there- .vance alternately, step by step, or intermittently, in a manner hereinafter more fully described. Piston head 3 has an extension 3 thereon forming. an exhaust chamber 13,

-.provided with an exhaust pipe connection at 13?. Secured t0 the outer end of the hub structure 7 is an annular exhaust valve block 14, which turns with said hub structure 7. Said exhaust valve. block has four valve chambers, 14 therein, communicating with the ports 8, 8 in the hub structure 7, and at 14; with the exhaust chamber 13, in the extension 3", said valve chambers being connectedwith each ounted in each valve chamber is a-valve member-14, on a valve rod, 14, at the opposite end of which is a. piston member 14 Each valve rod and its valve is'heId normally closed by means of a spring "letconnected with the end of the valve rod as indicated clearly in Figs. 8

and 9. The explosion in the piston chamber, through the ports 8, operates, by reason of the communication at 14 to move the piston 21,.and 21- andcan be seen in the background in Figs. 8 and 9.

Mounted between the extension casing 3 and said exhaust valve block 14, are holding rollers 15, 15, clearly seen in Figs.'1 and 9, said rollers being four in number and being normally pressed toward their holding positions bymeans of expansion springs 16, on

plungers 17,-set in the block 1'4, as indicated in Fig. 9,.whereby said valve block 14,: and the'hub member 7, and the pistons 5 and 6, carried thereby, arelocked against move ment in one direction, that is, against any backward movement,- as said locking rollers wedgebet'ween said exhaust 'valve block 14 and the inner wall 3 of said extension 3 Secured/t0 the outer side of said exhaust valve block 14 is an inlet valve body, 18,

having passageways 19, therethrough, controlled by valve members 20, 20', 21 and 21', for controlling the inlet from'the chamber 22, in said inlet valve body 18, through the passageways or ports 8,- 8, to the piston casing, between the pistons, as seen in Fig. 3.

Said valve members are mounted on valve operating-rods, 20 and 20 projecting through: a spider member 23, Fig. 1, and rovided with, springs 24, normally holc ing said 'yalve members closed, said springs 24 being positioned to hear at one end against said spider member 23, and at their opposite ends against'U-shaped members oryokes 25,

supported at their ends on cross members, 26,

" 26,and 26, 26, respectively, which cross mnibfiil are Pi conhected with 1001- lars2j 'and 27,, movable on the shaft 4, said collars'being provided on their opposite sideswi'tlrratchet dogs, as 28, 28 and 28", 28, each of saidjratchet dogs being stopped bya pin, as 29, and at. its opposite end engaged by cam collars 30 and 30,-secured to the shaft 4, asclearl'y indicated in Fig. 1. The valve rods 20 ;ar'e provided at-their ends outside"- the, U-shaped yokes 25, with adjustment nuts 31. The valves are, positively opened and closed by the cam collars 30 and 30 and the spr'ings 24,' as will be clear from Fig. 1. The cam collars operateon the ratchet dogs 28 and 28, the tapering cam surfaces moving tlietlogs and their collars. The ratchet dogs 1 permit the cam collars to turn past the dogs as they are intermittently turned forwardly,

turning of the" shaft f4fand the cam collars secured thereto, with relation to the cage or member carrying the valves 20, 20 21, 21

and their operating 'mechanisms. This will be readily understood when it is remembered that the hub 7, and its pistons 5 and are intermittently stepped forwardly, carrya ing the members 14, 18 and the valve mechanisms therein, with it, and then the shaft 4 and the pistons 10 and 11, through connections hereinafter more fully described, are stepped forwardly, that is, the two pairs of .pistonsare successively stepped forwardly, turning their, respective connections with it being understood that there is a relative them. The ratchet dogs are provided with any suitablespringsfor normally holding them against their stop pins 29.

The end of theshaft4, beyond the cam collar 30',$ is:somewhat larger than the rest of the shaft, as at 4*, and is bored hollow in its end, as at '4', to provide an intake to the chamber 22 in the 'inlet valve body, 18, through the orts 4, through the wall of said hollow pipe 4. Mounted in the end of said inlet valve body.18,. is a bearing mem= ber 32, also seen in Figs. 19 and 20, which turns on the large portion 4 ofthe main shaft 4: as will be clear from Fig. '1. Se-

cured to the shaft 4*. is a.'member 33,'seen also in Figs. 21 and 22, which fits over the end'of the bearing member 32. Said mem-.

ber 33 has twosemi-circular slots' 33?, 33 therein, as seen in Figs. 21 and 22, through which slots project the lugs 32 and 32 on the member 32, as will be more 'clear from Figs. 19 an 20. w

Mounted bu the member 33, is a special gear member 34, also show-n in Fig. 2*. secured to in Fig. 1,;and also shown in Figs. 21 and 22, are two spaced contact rings 35 and 36,, insulated from each other by fiber rings 37. Contact ring 35 is provided with a project:- ing pin 35*, and contact ring 36 is provided with a contact pin 36. These contact rings and their insulating rings, are allsecured together and are secured'to the member 33, which is secured to the shaft 4, and turn with said shaft. Similar contact rings'37 and 38 are mounted on a member 39, seen in Figs. 23 and 24, mounted around the special gear 34, shown in Fig. 2. Said contact rings 37 and 38 are insulated from each other by fiber rings Said ring 37 is proe member 33, shown in section vided with two contact pins 37 and 37",

oppositely disposed to each other, and --contact ring 38 is also provided with, twocontact pins 38 and 38, also oppositely disis l sidefofithe ring structure, at equal distances apart, oecupying. the quarter positions. The contactrings 35* and 36*? project in the-opposite direction and are two in number and occupy diametrically opposite positions.

Contact pins are positioned so as to .be engaged by. terminals. on four spark' plugs,

as .41, one o'f whioh is shown in full lines and OIIGOfWhlCh is indicated in dotted lines.

secured tothe hollow shaft 4 is a collar 42,

having oppositely projecting bearing pins 4 3, 43, on which are loosely mounted two gears, 44,144, having hub portions 45, projectingintohard rubber sleeves, 46, 46,lined with metal, and intowhich each has extended a coiled spring 47 one end of which is secured to the gear, 44,. asindicated in Fig. 1, and the other end of Which is arl range d udthin said hard rubber sleeve 46,

to provide a. ratchet action to prevent said sleeve from turning in one direction, but permitting it to turn in the opposite direction, as indicated, Fig. 2. Each of said hard rubbersleeves 46 is provided on. its outer endwith a spring holding member 47, Fig.

' 2 one of which is secured to the pin 43, ".{by' means/of a collar- 48, and its opposite endlis positioned to bear'against the opposite sides of the sleeve 46 and to hold'sa id sleeve 46 from turning in one direction but permitting it:to be turned by force in the other-direction. To this-end said sleeve is 46, asindicated: is dotted line Fig. 2. Asfthe' shaft 4*, and the collar 42 are intermit- I ,tently rotated, they carry said sleeves 46 and provided-in its opposite sides with notches.

,- the gears 44 around the axis of the shaft;

The gears 44 are in mesh with thegear teeth o -thememberz84, so that said sleeves are ,iso turned about'their own axes.

These "movements are-so timed that the collars-48,

- on said sleeves, successively contact with the ';c0ntaC.t pins 37* and 37 and 38 and 38 hereinbefore referred to, for completing elec- 'tric circuits to the spark plugs, through connections to be further described.

' :Bearing against the contact rings 37. and

"-38 are brush members 49 and 49, connected indicated. H v; vibrator coils and 55 designates three dry so by wires 50 and 50 to the coils 53 and 54,

as indicated. The contact rings 35' and 36 are engaged by brushes 51, 51', connecte 1 b -wires 52 and 52" to said coils 54- and 53 and 54 designate two 1 cell batteries, as the source of electrical energy, By this arrangement and these connections it'fi'spossible to successively energize thefour spark plugs, designated 41 and arranged around' the member 18, which turns with the sleeve structure 7, through Which the four ports 8 are formed, said ports serving successively as inlet and then as exhaust ports; as 'hereinbefore described. It will be understood, of course, that one set of contact rings, 35 and 36 and their contact points 35" and 36, areturne'd'intermittently with .pistons 5 and 6, and that the contact rings 37 and 38 and their four contact points are turned intermittently, through their connections, with pistons 10 and 11. The pistons follow each other step by ,step. .That is,

when one pair of pistonsmove forwardly a step and are held by theirholding rollers, then the other pair of pistons are moved forwardly a step and are heldby their holding rollers.

. The shaft 4 is extended through the hub structure 7 of pistons 5 and 6, and is provided atits opposite end with across-arm member'56, the outer ends of which are notched, as at-56, and, the hub portion of which is secured to the shaft 4, as at 57. Keyed to the adjacent end of the hub structure 7 isa special gear 58, Figs. 10 and 11,

havingcircumferential .slots 58 ,58? thereand has a flange 58 around'its periphery, for a purpose hereinafter referred to. 'Keyedto the sleeve 12 which carries pistons 10 and 11', is a special gear 59, Figs. 12 and 13,'having circumferential slots 59 and having gear ,teeth 59 and also having around its outer periphery the'fiange 59. -Also keyed on said sleeve '12, inside of said special gear 59, is a bearing ring 60, between which and the flangefil, formed ,on the head 2 of the eas- .in. Said gear has its teeth 58 on its. face.-. I

ing 1. are looking rollers 62, similar to the rollers 15, for locking the pistons 10 and 11 against backward movement, as'

entialslots 58 in gear 58., Referring to Figs. 1, 14 and 15, 64 designates a shafthead comprising a. stub shaft 64 a flange 64 and a drum or band 64 secured to the flange 64 "y means of ears and screws, as at 64. Said ba-nd' 64is providedwith slots 64 and notches 64". When said shaft head and its drum or band are in place, as shown in Fig. 1. the short arms between the .ends'of the slots 58 of the special gear 58, move in'the .slots 64 in said band. Therefore when pistons 5 and 6 andtheir hub structure 7 turn,

they turn gear 58 and its short arms move I in the slots 64 in said shaft head 64 for the length of theslots. Then the shaft head 64 and its slots are moved forwardly a partial turn, moving their slots overthe short arms for the length of the slots. Thus step by step said parts are advanced. Said band 64 shown in side elevation. in Fig. 16, and bear- -ture 7 and the sleeve 12.

carries fourv inwardly projecting pins 65 I will describe a starting mechanism for ye gme, made as apart thereof. Mounted on the side of the casing head 2 is a drum like member 67 having the inner annular flange .68. Yieldingly supported in said drum are-a plurality of brake shoes 69,

said drum being full and dotted line showing of Fig. 16.

. Said shoes are supported by pins 70, having springs 71 which bear onthe outside of said drum (S7, asclearly indicated. Mount-- I ed around band 64 IS an annular two-part ring 71, divided circumferentially'as;at 72.

Said; ring is cut out in .pla ces wherebyto.

provide a'U-shaped pocket, as indicat-cdin Fig. ,17, to receive a short shaft 73, extended through the opposite sides of saidring 71,-,

and provided with eccentrically positioned reduced portions 7 2 which carry rollers 74:, 71, of soft material, on the outside of said ring 71', said rollers operating in the brake shoes 69. Said short shaft 73 is also pro-v and with a (iOlled videdfiwith'a gear 75, spring 76, around said shaft 73. said spring being connected at one end was half gear 7 5 and at its other end with the side of the ring 71, as clearly indicated in Fig. 17, showing this. detail of constructioninenlarged sectional view.

gear normally turned so as to hold the eccentric shaftends and the brake rollers raised, or in positions so i 'the brake shoesuntil turned. Said ring 71 is also cut away, in places in its inner face, asat'71, to receive holdiiig' rollers 77, for locking said ring 71 to the outside of the hand 64 of the shaft head] 64, in a manner similar to the rollers in Fig: 9. Surrounding the ring 71 is a gear ring 78, having on its inner face, at different places, groups of gear teeth 79 to inesh with the half gear '7 5 on the eccentric shaft ends 73*. The gear ring 78 has an interfitting engagement with the ring 71 and can move slightly relatlve thereto, ems-permitted by the half gears 75'. The ring 71 and the gear 78, carrying the rollers 7 i, 7 4, therewith, are rotatable so that the :rollers '74 move through the brake shoes -;69 to depress said-brake shoes if the rollers are moveddown by the turning of their ingon the flanges of gears 58 and 59, said bra ke shoes at the outer and inner sides of arranged in staggered re-' lationshlp, as will be understood from the "therebetweem' longitudinally of the axisof said pistons This spring keeps the half ,v

they will not operate on shaft 73. The teeth on said 'gar ring 78 operate to turn the eccentric shaft to move said brake shoe rollers 7 4 down into position v .to depress the brake shoes 69 when they pass through them. The brake shoes are. operated to hold first one of the-gears 58 and 59 and then the other, by pressure upon their flanges, as indicated in-Fig. 1. Thus in starting the engine, one side of. the diiferenmotor for starting the engine.

1. 1 claim:

1.111 a rotary gasengine, a piston casshaft 80, which can be connected to any suitable 80 ing, two pairs of pistons rotatably mounted therein in crossed relationship with each other, meansfor intermittently locking said pistons against backward movement, means providing inlet and exhaust ways around the axis-of said pistons, longitudinally thereof, controlvalves tons, and control valves'for' exhaust movable transversely ofsaid axis wh'ereby'the inlet and exhaust is controlled, smbstantially as described. i e

2. In a rotarygas engine, "a piston casing, two pairs of pistons rotatably mounted thereinin crossed -relationship with each other, means for automatically locking said pistons against backward. movement, inlet and exhaust meansv provided through the 'hub portions, of said pistons and opening controlling valves mova=ble for controlling the gas inlet, a main shaft, and means on-said shaftfor intermittently and alternately operating said valves, substantiallyas described.

In a rotary engine, a piston casing, a shaft 'therethrough, a pair of- .pistons mounted on said shaft andhavingga hu'b portiqn provided with combination inlet and exhaust passageways a second pair of vvpi s-.

for gas supply movable; longitudinally around the axis of said pistons mounted onthe hub portion of saidfirst pistons, in "crossed; relationship. there with, valves for" controlling the inlet of gas to said casing throughsaid passageways, means turning with said shaft for operating said valves intermittently, said valves being held closed. by explosion or conipression in said casing between said pistoi1s, exhaust valves controlling the exhaustthrough. said passageways, said'valves being successively .bers, a. plurality of spark plugs around the axis of said pistons, revolving contact members adapted to-turn, respectively withsaid panes": pistons and-to successively contact with said spark plugs, a source ofjelectrice'n- ..operated by explosions in adjacent chamergy and connections for energizing said spark plugs intermittently, substantially as shown and described,

4. In a rotary gas engine, a piston casing, a shaft therethrough, two pans of pistons mounted in crossed relationship in said cas-" ing and adapted to have an intermittent, alternate forward moyement, one after the other, means for automatically locking said pistons against backward movement, inlet and exhaust controlling mechanism, including inlet valves yieldingly mounted and connected in pairs, means on said shaft for operating said valves intermittently and successively, one only of each connected pair of valves being opened and the other being held closed by pressure in the piston casing, said inlet and exhaust controlling mechanism also including exhaust valves adapted to be successively operated by explosions in said pistoncasing, substantially as described.

relationship with each other around said shaft, inlet and exhaust controlling mechamsm, including two pairs of inlet valves connected for operation in pairs and turning with said pistons, means on saids'haft for as described.

9. In a rotary engine, a piston casing: a

shaft therethrough, two pairs of pistons mounted therein in crossed relationship, said pistons having hub portionsin interfitting relationship with each other around said shaft, combination inlet and exhaust controlling means revolving with said pistons, and including inlet valves with means on said shaft for intermittently operating said inlet valves as they are revolved rela- 5. In a rotary engine of the character re-' ferred to, a piston casing, pistons rotatably mounted. therein, means on the-outside of said casing, at opposite sidesthereof, for intermittently holding said pistons against backward movement, neans for controlling inlet and exhaust to and from said casing,

including inlet valves connected together 3Q =for movement singly or in pairs, and means turning with said pistons for intermittently operating said inlet valves, substantially as described. i

6. Ina rotary engine, in combination with 40 pistons against backward movement, and

35 a piston casing and pistons rotating there means on the opposite side of said casing;

for. controlling-inlet and exhaust to and from said casing, ncluding inlet and exhaust valves with means for intermlttently and successivelyoperating the same, and ignition means including spaced spark plugs and rotating contact members adapted to contact with said spark plugs, substantially as described.

mounted therein in crossed relationship, said" v ';7. In a rotary engine, a piston casing, a

' pistons having hub portions in interfittingrelationships around said shaft,'i nlet and ex- 55v haust passageways in the hub portion of one of said pistons, and inlet control flyalves turning therewith relative to said shaft, and means on said shaft for operating said valves intermittently, substantially as de- .60 scribed.

' 8. In a rotary engine, a piston casing, a shaft therethrough, two pairs of pistons mounted therein in crossed relationship, said pistons having hub portions in interfitting tive" to said shaft, said' inlet valvesbeing connected together in pairs and being adapted to be separately operated, and ignition:

means, including revolving contact members, adapted to ignite the explosive mixture in said ,casing between said pistons, substan- -'10." In a rotary engine, a piston casing,

a shaft therethrough, p1stons"revolnbly" tially as described.

mounted in said casing, said shaft having an inlet )as'sageway therethrough, longitudi I nally t ereof, for gas supply, valves for con:

trolling said inlet to said casing between said pistons, said valves turning with said pistons, and meanson said shaft for operatsaid shaft. g- 11. Ina rotar enmne a iston rasm la b 2-? shaft therethrough having gas supply pas-' ing said valves as they are turnedrelative to 3 I 1 1-00 sageway therethrough, pistonsmounted to' ,"turn with said shaft in said casing, valve-C mechanism 'for controlling the inlet of gas from said shaft to said casing between said pistons, and means on said shaft for operating said valve mechanism to open said gas inlets, substantially as described.

12. Ina rotary gas engine, a piston casing, a shaft in. said casing provided with a gas supply passageway tons rotatably mounted in said c.: ;sing, sa1d for controlling said inlet and exhaust passageways, said inlet valves being operable by said-shaft, and means earned by said shaft for intermittently operating said inlet valves, whereby to permit gas from said shaft to enter'said; casing between said. pisward movement, said means being outside of said casing, means for controlling the gas supply to said casing, said means turnlng therethrough, pis-.

pistons having hub portions with inlet and exhaust passageways therethrongh,

moving, contact members,

with said pistons and including inlet and exhaust valves, and means on said shaft for connected in pairs and turning with saidpistons for ,cont'rolling'the inlet to said cas-' ing, means on said shaft for operating said valves as they are turned relative to said shaft," ignition means including fixed contact members and rotating contact members, and a source of electric energy therefor, substantially as described.

15. In a rotary gas engine, n combination with the piston casing and pistons therein, of inlet and exhaust mechanism, and ignition means including fixed and and a differential mechanism between said fixed and moving contact members, whereby to regulate said contacts, substantially as described.

l6. In a rotary gas engine, a piston cass ing, pistons revolubly mounted. therein, means for supplying gas mixture to said casing between said-pistons, and ignition means comprising spark plugs having contact members thereon, revolublecontact members adapted to, make and break cir-- cuits with said spark plugs, and a difi'erential mechanism for controlling the move- .ing,

ments of said revoluble contact members, s

time said ,contacts whereby to properly substantially as de- With said sparkplugs, scribed.

17. In a rotary gas engine, a piston cas ashaft therein" adaptedfto admit gas longitudinally therethrpugh, pis tons mounted in crossed relationship in said l mixture casing, valve mechanism turning withsaid plstons for controlling theadmission of gas to said casing, means on said shaft for operating said valve mechanism, valves turning with said pistons for controlling the ex; haust from said casing, sparkv plugs Having i contact points, rotating contact members adapted to successively engage with said spark plugs for ignition tive movements of said I several contact members, whereby to properly time and control said contacts, scribed. E l

18. In a rotary gas engine of the charac in combination with the cas-, ing and pistons therein, and the inlet andtar referred to,

exhaust control mechanism, of ignition purposes, anddifferential mechanism controlling the rela w substantially as demeans comprising a plurality of rotatable contact members rotating with the pistons, a source of electric energy, and 'a diflerential mechanism for regulating said contact members in their movements relative to each other,- -Whereby to, properly time said. contacts, substantially as shown and de-.

scribed.

Signed at Portland, Multnomah. county,

Oregon, this 7th day of February, 1919. JAMES WILLIAM GREEN. T In presence ofv I. M. GRIFFIN, W. R. LITZENBERG. 

